Most of us feel grateful. We’ve come far and lived long. Yet all of us are human. So even amidst all that gratitude, we can occasionally feel antsy. Restless. I daresay, bored. Although now in our 60s, we can morph into those blasé children we were when a summer day dragged on and on and on.

Maybe you’ve lost a bit of your sparkle? Misplaced
your mojo? Replaced energy with ennui?

A week away works wonders. But if you can’t manage that, there are
lots of other ways to bounce back when you’re feeling blah.

Here are 5 suggestions that might shake things up.

Restore Some Order

Order isn’t about downsizing or giving away all your
earthly possessions. It’s about taking a hard look at a drawer, a closet, or
any place in your home that’s bulging at the seams or just less than organized.

Our home environment is usually a reflection of our
inner thoughts and feelings. So, if you find yourself tired of life as usual,
sort through some possessions and let a few of them go.

Give new life to a cluttered space. Give your
belongings room to breathe, and give yourself a chance to feel a little lighter.

Create Something

An art degree is not required for creativity to strike!
You probably have what you need to release your inner artist (or you may stumble upon it as you declutter!).

Tubes of paint, paintbrushes, and a canvas; drawing
pencils and a sketch pad; stacks of old magazines with pretty pictures; old
photographs (digital or prints); fresh or dried flowers; blank paper and a pen;
a camera; a musical instrument you know how to play; anything you use for crafting.

Let ordinary items like these speak to you. Then use
them as you wish! Because creating doesn’t come with a rulebook. And because creativity
is the opposite of boredom.

Hello, Color! Bye-Bye, Blues!

Color is Sparkle’s best friend. And there are
countless ways to bring more color into everyday life.

Lipstick, nail polish, fun streaks in our hair. Pillow
covers, sofa throws, new blooms in the window boxes. Scarves, funky jewelry, lively
hats.

Place some pops of fun in some unexpected places. And
while you’re at it, color outside the lines, too.

Go Outside and Play

As children, how many times did our parents urge us,
“Go outside and play”? And how often was that just what we needed to relieve
our boredom?

Spending time in nature quiets the chatter in our minds.
We experience sights, sounds, fragrances and textures from beyond our four
walls. Whether you take a long walk or sit quietly under a tree, the
restorative power of natural surroundings will work its magic and re-energize
you.

Have an Afternoon Adventure

Travel as an antidote to boredom is not new, even in our day and time. And there’s no law that says travel has to be exotic or require a huge amount of time. We can go a long way toward bringing the twinkle back to our eyes in an afternoon.

Browse the local bookstore. Visit the farmers’ market.
Treat yourself to a solo date, whether that’s ice cream or an evening at the
theatre.

Get a new haircut. Try a new recipe. Take the long way
home.

Take a chance and travel beyond the day-to-day, just
for an afternoon. See where that leads you.

If any of these suggestions sound superficial, that’s
probably because they are. Because the path to reclaiming our joy, rediscovering
what makes us shine, isn’t always forged by taking giant leaps. Usually we just
need to take a few baby steps.

And as long as they put a spring in our step, we’re on
our way to banishing the boredom of the everyday. One tube of vibrant lipstick
at a time.

How do you re-energize when boredom
strikes? What small things bring back your sparkle? Join the conversation and
share with the community!

“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken” — Oscar Wilde

I have this quote on a pillow at my entryway, it’s a great way to remind myself that I need to be true to me. I should not be ‘doing’ what others expect me to, unless it’s what I want to do!

Buried in Expectations

Many of us take on roles that are what others expect of us, but if we were really honest, many of those roles were just that, ‘roles’. We figured out what we were expected to look like, to do or be, and we submerged who we were under the ‘who others think we should be’ category.

I know I’m guilty of this, what about you? How often have you done something because you worry about the image you’ll project if you’re not the ‘perfect’ colleague/wife/mother (take your choice)?

It takes courage and commitment to move beyond the mindset of worrying about what others think and sharing what we truly want to do or be. We struggle with being ourselves, after many years of shaping ourselves into what we are told or think others want us to be.

The Unique You

I believe what Oscar Wilde meant is that being yourself is the best way you can take care of yourself, which in turn will allow you to do those wonderful things you’ve always dreamed of!

When we are truly ourselves, we show our uniqueness to the world. People believe in us because they know the person we present is truly who we are, flawed, authentic and incomparable.

We forget that we are a result of different sets of genes inherited from our family of origin and that there is no one exactly like us – even twins are different, each with distinctive characteristics.

We have different ways of learning, different ways of thinking, and yet we judge ourselves if we think differently from others in the group we have chosen – how crazy is that!

Being authentic doesn’t mean that we have to be narcissistic. Rather, it means we should be clear on our values and beliefs. It means knowing both our strengths and weaknesses and being okay with them. It means sometimes putting ourselves first, being selfish to be selfless.

Have you ever done something that didn’t quite align with who you are, but did it because it was expected of you? How did you feel afterward?

When we go against our values, we take an emotional hit. It may not be visible to others, but it sure feels bad. If we continue to go against who we are, those emotional hits can fester, and take on the form of addiction or even disease.

Being true to ourselves is a form of self-care, it is a way of saying we matter. If we don’t take care of ourselves, why should we expect others to treat us well?

Being ourselves may not make us the most popular person on the block, but it allows us to live a more open and honest life. The great thing about moving beyond 60 is that we care less about what others think of us.

So, how can you move beyond the habit of trying to live up to the expectations of others?

Start by Looking Inside Yourself

Get to know the real you. Look at the values you hold: Are they truly what you believe or have you just held onto them because they were the values your parents held? What about the beliefs you have about yourself and who you are – are they true or are they self-limiting?

One of the scariest things I did this year was ask a dozen people to describe me in three words – it was enlightening, and also wonderful. Being vulnerable and open to feedback can be very energizing.

Accept Yourself

Accept yourself and who you are – faults and all. This can be difficult, you’ve conformed for so long whether it’s to your parents, your peers or society, it’s difficult to change and become who you really are inside.

You’re used to hiding your inner self, accepting others’ beliefs about who and what you should be. You’ve even told yourself negative things about your desires and dreams.

Seek change, and remember: you can’t just dream of change, you need to take action – one small step at a time. Work out what’s important to you and make a plan.

Set goals that excite and inspire you, but ensure they are realistic. For instance, if you want to work out each day and decide you need to get up extra early to do it, but are not a morning person, that won’t work so well for you.

Speak Your Truth

Think before you speak. What are your truths? Deal with conflicts, and let others know how you think and/or feel. While initially this may surprise them – and you may lose friends – it allows you to be who you truly are.

Go for what you want in life, pick yourself up when you fall down – because you will – and move forward. The strongest people I know are those who have failed and who have picked themselves up and tried again.

Lean into Your Fear

There’s nothing wrong with being afraid. Having the courage to face your fear, turn it upside down, inside out and using it, is to empower. When you face your fear, when you feel and express it, you can move through it and come out the other side stronger and more fearless!

Celebrate Who You Are

Honour who you really are, appreciate yourself and what you bring to this World. Be proud of your uniqueness, be generous and take time to share your gifts. Others will be glad that you did!

Have you ever conformed to others’ expectations of you? Or are you one of those people who were able to stand up and express their own opinion? Are you on the road of becoming the real you? Please share your stories of becoming reacquainted with yourself.

For many of us, the idea of switching to a healthy, organic diet seems out of reach because the perception is that it’s too expensive. Is that really true?

It can be difficult to pinpoint the answer because we all have different food purchasing habits and budgets and family sizes. So, a healthy food that I may think is reasonably priced because it fits into my food budget may be expensive for others… or is it really?

We Live on Processed Foods

In researching, I was stunned to read how many Americans buy their food from dollar stores. HealthNutNews explains that about 90 percent of the money Americans spend on food goes to buy processed foods.

60% of the food Americans eat is not just processed but ultra-processed, which is defined as food products containing several ingredients that are not traditionally used in cooking.

Also, besides salt, sugar, oils, and fats, they can include artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, and other additives used to imitate sensorial qualities of unprocessed or minimally processed foods.

Why the Growing Trend?

How can we encourage people to eat healthy? Is it a matter of not having enough time to prepare healthy foods? Is it a matter of budget?

If budget is an issue, a quick online search shows hundreds of budget-minded recipes: 20 recipes for eating healthy on a budget, cheap healthy meals, budget dinners, and cheap heart-healthy dinner ideas.

My Own Experiment

I did a little test on the cost of an Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup recipe. Going online to WalMart.com, I sourced all the ingredients in organic and came up with soup, side salad, and bread at $4.25 per serving.

Note that this did not take into account the cost of basics, such as spices, and Walmart did not offer an organic version of half and half.

Dirty Dozen

There are actually many recipes that you can convert to healthier substitutes to eliminate pesticide-laden greens and fruits, GMO’s and other processed and chemical additives. When looking to make the switch to incorporate more fresh organics into your diet, keep in mind that there is a list of the Dirty Dozen which includes the top 12 produce to always buy organic due to the heavy use of pesticides.

This year, the list includes strawberries (with 20 different pesticides), spinach, kale, collard, and mustard greens (which has inched its way up the list over the years), nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, bell and hot peppers, celery, and tomatoes.

At the same link, you will also find the Clean Fifteen list for those fruits and veggies that are clean to eat if you can’t find organic. 

Can We Really Eat Healthy and Keep to Our Budget?

On webmd.com, there is a list of tips you can follow to keep your grocery bill low while your family eats healthier. This list includes:

• Compare options and pay attention to portion size;
• Plan before you shop – keep impulse buying to a minimum;
• Choose cheaper protein – swap out red meat or fish with lentils for example;
• Buy in season;
• Go frozen when fruits and veggies aren’t in season. They’re usually frozen right after they’re picked so they may actually have more nutrients than “fresh” produce shipped from far away.

So, Is Eating Healthy More Expensive?

I think an important question is, of course, how much value do you place on your health? If switching from processed foods to more natural and organic foods, and budget has been stopping you in the past, the best way to start is to take baby steps.

Start this week by picking two items in your shopping list that you can 1) either eliminate because they are unhealthy and processed-laden snacks, or 2) you can switch to the healthier, organic option.

Do you eat healthy? What does healthy food mean to you? How often do you eat processed foods? Do you pay attention to the list of ingredients in each item you buy? We would love to hear what unhealthy options you want to commit to removing from your grocery list or your favorite healthy recipes. 

I love IKEA. I have loved it since I first heard the store name on an old episode of Trading Spaces on the TLC channel. When I say I love it though, I am not talking about the meatballs in the cafeteria or the cute, little, blue, shopping bags.

I mean I love the sleek European-inspired furniture that is either appropriately sized for a cottage home or serves a smart dual purpose. (Sometimes both!)

Take the NORDEN gateleg table for example. Small, neat dimensions make the table easy to place, even when space is limited. When the leaves are dropped down, the table acts as a storage tower with 3 drawers on either side. When the leaves are up, the table seats 2-4 adults while still allowing the drawers to be used. It is so cute and so clever.

The NORDEN isn’t the only dual-purpose furniture available, and IKEA is not the only place to make or sell it. In fact, there are a few more pieces that are go-to, dual-purpose if you are looking to save space in a cottage home or any home.

For the Bedroom

In the early part of the 20th century, an inventor named William Lawrence Murphy “was falling for a young opera singer and courting customs at that time would not permit a lady to enter a gentleman’s bedroom.” He quickly went to work on an idea that would allow his bed to be stowed away in his closet, transforming his one-room apartment from a bedroom into a parlor.

Little did he know he was creating the Murphy Bed, a quintessential dual-purpose furniture piece. Granted, it’s only technically “used” as a bed, but when stowed away it gives the homeowner back floor space which can be used for many things.

For the Home Office

Due to COVID-19 and a stay-at-home order, I spent quite a bit of time working from home this past year. In a smaller home though, there is little space to make a dedicated workspace, let alone an office.

Fortunately, several companies sell a Wall-Mounted Drop-Leaf Table. Not only are these tables a home storage cabinet, suitable for a kitchen, a bathroom, or even a bedroom, but also as a laptop workstation.

For the Book Lover

Do you love books like I do but simply don’t have room for another great paperback? Don’t really care for digital readers but not sure where you can keep another tome? Step back. Look up. Chances are you probably have at least one doorway in your home with a little extra space above it. I know I do.

Now’s your chance to turn it into something useful. I found a simple shelf and brackets at my local box store and rested it on the trim work directly above my bedroom door. Voila! Within minutes I had a new mini library. A second shelf may allow for another library near another door. Such a perfect use for space that often goes unnoticed altogether.

For the Blanket Lover

I run a little cold, so I rarely watch television without a fleece blanket. I don’t like how messy my couch looks with a blanket just tossed on it or over it. Instead, I put it in my ottoman. One footstool provides both comfort and convenience.

I’ve seen Storage Ottomans in a number of stores, ranging from arts and crafts locations to hardware outlets. They are so clever and have become a staple in home furnishings.

What about your home? What dual-purpose furniture do you have? Are there any you consider a must-have? What do you use them for? Please share with the community!

Gizelle Bryant’s Tan Cutout Sweater

Real Housewives of Potomac Season 6 Episode 2 Fashion

I’m not sure if Gizelle Bryant’s cutout sleeves on her sweater came like that, or as a result from her daughters ripping into her? I’m going to say it came like that because her daughters are doing it out of love. I think it’s really mature of them to talk with her about stuff like that. A mother—daughter relationship is so special. Sharing things like advice, opinions, and of course cute clothes.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

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Originally posted at: Gizelle Bryant’s Tan Cutout Sweater